We hopped on board a fresh new Jimny for an epic expedition adventure across the mountains and through the valleys of the Garden Route, not only putting the vehicle to the test but ourselves as well.
Back in Time
Long-time readers of AutoTrader will recognise that many OEMs choose the stunning beauty of the Garden Route and its surroundings to launch their vehicles. It is also no secret that we absolutely love this area as it boasts some of the best and most scenic driving routes that you will find anywhere in South Africa.
What many don’t know is that this area also hides a fascinating array of historic routes that are not very often used, as these “roads” that span the mountains and towns are in fact old ox-wagon routes that were used in the early nineteenth century. When Suzuki South Africa offered us the chance to retrace the steps of the early pioneers in some freshly minted Indian-built Jimny’s, we naturally jumped at the opportunity.
Suzuki has posted record sales locally and with global demand for the fourth-generation Jimny far outstripping supply, India was asked to step in and build Jimny models for the world. The Indian-built models are knockdown construction vehicles with all the parts coming from Japan and assembled in the Maruti Suzuki plant in Gurgaon and they are every bit as solid as the original Japanese-built models.
Powered by a K15B 1.5 four-cylinder NA engine and mated to your choice of a 5-speed manual or 4-speed auto transmission. the Jimny weighs next to nothing and ascends and descends the steep inclines and rocky terrain of the historic routes with absolute ease.
Equipped with Suzuki’s AWD AllGrip system the Jimny is able to tackle daunting climbs and treacherous valley descents in low range and is able to take on narrow gauge tracks that will tri up a larger vehicle and on this particular trek, would come in handy more than one could imagine.
Odyssey
The Suzuki Safari Oxwagon Odyssey is organised and facilitated by African Expeditions and is a standalone product offered to Suzuki clients and anyone else with any vehicle that chooses to take on the challenge. The groups are kept small and limited per trip to reduce the impact on the environment and also make the adventure a more intimate experience, allowing the group to stay at more secluded spots.
Our tour would last 4 days and see us cover just over 1000 kilometres and access routes and passes that leave you breathless. The guides were bristling with interesting facts and figures concerning the area, flora, and fauna and of course, the pioneers that forged the routes that would see us cross mountain ranges, fertile valleys, and secluded conservation areas. We were also treated to some of the stories, legends, and living legends that call the Klein Karoo and flanking mountains home.
The routes themselves, although very secluded and not very often used were not too tasking, and even people with minimal offroad experience will be able to take on the trip that featured regular stops to take in the magnificent vistas.
Facilitate the experience
It must be noted that this is not a product that Suzuki offers but one that they support and encourage their Jimny buyers to take as it is not only a historical learning experience but also will teach buyers to drive their Jimny’s further and expand their offroad driving repertoire.
You can book your Suzuki Safari with African Expeditions here and live an experience that you will carry forever and maybe learn something about the history of South Africa, and yourself in the process.
Keyword: Suzuki Safari OxWagon Odyssey Adventure